Perdue vetoes fracking bill

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July 1, 2012 1:24:19 PM PDT

RALEIGH --

Governor Bev Perdue vetoed the controversial fracking bill Sunday, the last day she had to act before it would have become law.

The governor said she supports hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking," but believes additional safeguards are needed in the bill. Without those safeguards in place to protect drinking water and the health of North Carolina families, Perdue said she was forced to veto the bill.

"I urged the sponsors of the bill to adopt a few changes to ensure that strong protections would be in place before any fracking would occur," Perdue said in a statement. "The General Assembly was unwilling to adopt the changes I suggested."

But for supporters of fracking, Perdue said she would consider signing the bill into law if changes were made.

"If they improve the bill to strengthen the protections for North Carolina families, I will sign it into law," said Perdue.

Perdue issued an executive order demanding higher standards for shall gas development in May.

Supporters of the fracking bill believe the state could profit from energy exploration, such as other states across the country have done.

"Once again Governor Perdue has vetoed North Carolina citizens out of good paying energy jobs," said Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina State Director, Dallas Woodhouse. "States like North Dakota and Pennsylvania are seeing natural gas energy booms, but today Governor Perdue decided that North Carolina citizens should continue to suffer crippling unemployment."

The measure now returns to the General Assembly, where a veto override this week is uncertain because there may not be enough votes.